"Master, my strength has truly increased."
Esdeath was intimately familiar with her own power.
Even after becoming a devil...
She had a solid grasp of it.
But now...
Not only had her physical prowess grown.
The demonic energy flowing through her had surged as well.
In this moment, she deeply understood just how extraordinary her master was.
"Esdeath, if you want to grow faster, we can't let anything go to waste."
"Oh my—my master is quite naughty..."
Esdeath shot him a sultry glance.
Then she obediently began tidying up, gathering every last "elixir" without waste.
Gulp.
As she swallowed it down, her level—already teetering on the brink—finally broke through.
In the days that followed...
Driven by her hunger for strength, Esdeath threw herself into it relentlessly.
She neglected military duties entirely, remaining constantly at Kaiser's side.
[Esdeath]
[Race: Devil]
[Master: Kaiser Lucifuge]
[Level: LV41]
[Skill: Absolute Zero]
[Absolute Zero: Mastery over ice reaches the pinnacle of mortal limits.]
"It's almost like I'm getting better at boosting my servants."
Compared to Shiho and the others, Esdeath's growth was noticeably faster.
She was already at the peak of High-Class Devil.
Leveling up once at this stage...
Likely required more effort than ten levels in Mid-Class.
Yet in just a few days...
She'd gained two full levels.
"Could it be because my own power has advanced?"
Kaiser murmured thoughtfully, though a touch of frustration crept in.
His servants were progressing rapidly...
While his own gains felt slower by comparison.
But then...
He reminded himself he had more than one servant.
And his mood balanced out instantly.
"If that's the case, we'll just have to work harder."
A glint sparked in Kaiser's eyes as he flipped her over.
Sensing his movements, panic flickered in Esdeath's gaze.
"N-no more—I can't take it."
Kaiser pinned her gently, giving no quarter for escape.
"Who was it that said she'd do anything to grow stronger?"
Just then...
A thunderous chorus of warhorses echoed across the camp.
"The foreign tribes are attacking?"
Esdeath perked up as if granted a reprieve.
"Fine. Business first."
"Yes, Master."
Esdeath stretched languidly, quickly dressing before dashing out of the tent.
Watching her retreat, Kaiser extended his senses.
"So these are the foreign tribes' forces—decent enough."
He assessed them, stroking his chin.
Their strength...
Fell short of his standards.
But far surpassed ordinary humans.
"By rights, they should yield some experience."
Kaiser dressed and levitated into the air.
...
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The armies faced off, tension thick even before battle commenced—murderous intent soaring skyward.
War was cruel to all.
Stepping into the fray meant certain death for most.
But for Kaiser...
It felt like coming home.
He drifted above the imperial soldiers' heads, unnoticed by all.
Who would dare object?
The man belonged to General Esdeath.
Mounted on her warhorse, Esdeath spotted his arrival, mild confusion in her eyes.
"Not happy to see me?"
"No—I assumed Master had little interest in a skirmish like this."
She dismounted gracefully, offering the reins to him.
"No need."
Kaiser waved it off. "I'm just here to squash some ants."
With that, he descended to the ground and strolled casually toward the enemy lines.
At the sight...
Esdeath signaled the army to hold position.
As his servant...
She executed his commands without question.
On the opposing side...
At the forefront of the foreign forces.
"What is the Empire playing at?"
The speaker was a handsome, armored warrior.
Prince Numa Seika, the northern tribes' champion.
Their pillar of strength.
His presence alone emboldened the tribes to invade imperial territory.
"Out of soldiers already? Sending one man to his death?"
Numa spurred his horse forward, confronting Kaiser directly.
As the tribes' greatest warrior...
He feared no lone foe.
That was his confidence.
"I'm not with the Empire."
Kaiser shook his head lightly.
"Hm?"
Numa frowned, unsure he'd heard correctly. "What did you say?"
"Nothing. Just here for a light snack."
Kaiser's eyes remained calm and indifferent.
"What are you babbling about?"
Ferocity flashed in Numa's gaze. "Doesn't matter who you are."
"Anyone here is my enemy. Die—"
His threat cut short as Kaiser acted.
Under countless watching eyes...
Kaiser extended index and middle fingers, pointing distantly.
"Absolute Zero."
The words fell.
An extreme, soul-piercing chill erupted instantly, encasing Numa in solid ice.
Then...
The cold spread relentlessly.
From Kaiser as the epicenter, the battlefield turned deathly still.
In moments...
Hundreds of thousands of tribal warriors wore expressions of pure terror.
Cold.
Utter, absolute cold.
It froze not just flesh...
But souls themselves.
They had no time to react.
In a single instant...
Every soldier transformed into an ice statue.
The battlefield fell into profound silence.
Imperial troops stood frozen in shock, minds blank.
Even Esdeath's pupils contracted as she grasped the true depth of her skill.
In Kaiser's hands...
Absolute Zero transcended mere physical cold—it touched the soul.
Low temperature no longer described it.
This was utter annihilation—freezing all existence.
The soldiers had died...
Before the ice even claimed them.
[Experience +1]
[Experience +3]
[Experience +10]
Notifications streamed across Kaiser's vision as his power climbed steadily.
[Kaiser Lucifuge]
[Race: Progenitor Devil]
[Level: LV56]
[Authority: Progenitor Devil Transformation]
[Servants: Grayfia, Shiho Miyano, Akemi Miyano, Esdeath]
[Skills: Devil Contract, Devil Summoning, Infinite Demonic Power, Heart of Magic, Demonic Marksman, Devil's Pistol, Demonic Mask, Absolute Zero]
...
"Two levels—not bad."
Kaiser regarded his panel with satisfaction.
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